²² Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love^(A) and peace, along with those who call on the Lord^(B) out of a pure heart.^{(C) 23} Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.^{(D) 24} And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.^{(E) 25} Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth,^{(F) 26} and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil,^(G) who has taken them captive to do his will.

3 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.^{(H) 2} People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money,^(I) boastful, proud,^(J) abusive,^(K) disobedient to their parents,^(L) ungrateful, unholy, ³ without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, ⁴ treacherous,^(M) rash, conceited,^(N) lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— ⁵ having a form of godliness^(O) but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.^(P)

⁶ They are the kind who worm their way^(Q) into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, ⁷ always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.^{(R) 8} Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses,^(S) so also these teachers oppose^(T) the truth. They are men of depraved minds,^(U) who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. ⁹ But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men,^(V) their folly will be clear to everyone.

A Final Charge to Timothy

¹⁰ You, however, know all about my teaching,^(W) my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, ¹¹ persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch,^(X) Iconium^(Y) and Lystra,^(Z) the persecutions I endured.^(AA) Yet the Lord rescued^(AB) me from all of them.^{(AC) 12} In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,^{(AD) 13} while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse,^(AE) deceiving and being deceived.^{(AF) 14} But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it,^{(AG) 15} and how from infancy^(AH) you have known the Holy Scriptures,^(AI) which are able to make you wise^(AJ) for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ All Scripture is God-breathed^(AK) and is useful for teaching,^(AL) rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,^{(AM) 17} so that the servant of God^[a](AN) may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.^(AO)

4 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead,^(AP) and in view of his appearing^(AQ) and his kingdom, I give you this charge:^{(AR) 2} Preach^(AS) the word;^(AT) be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke^(AU) and encourage^(AV)—with great patience and careful instruction. ³ For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine.^(AW) Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.^{(AX) 4} They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.^{(AY) 5} But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship,^(AZ) do the work of an evangelist,^(BA) discharge all the duties of your ministry.

Suffering for Being a Christian

¹² Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you^(A) to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. ¹³ But rejoice^(B) inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ,^(C) so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.^{(D) 14} If you are insulted because of the name of Christ,^(E) you are blessed,^(F) for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. ¹⁵ If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. ¹⁶ However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.^{(G) 17} For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household;^(H) and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?^{(I) 18} And,

¹⁹ So then, those who suffer according to God’s will^(K) should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.